No More Backroom Deals at Queen’s Park

(Queen’s Park): The Liberal government must say no to backroom deals, says Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner.
“From special deals for developers to backroom nuclear negotiations, this government must stop giving special deals to their friends,” says Schreiner. “Today is the first day of the fall sitting of the Legislature. It’s time for a fresh start that puts good policy first.”

“Special deals hurt people and communities. For example, Liberal loopholes are allowing a mega-development in Midhurst to go ahead while breaking 16 core values of the Places to Grow Act,” adds Schreiner. “The GPO will continue to support citizens in their efforts to end sweetheart deals for special interests.”

Schreiner outlined the Green Party of Ontario’s top three priorities for the fall sitting of the Legislature:

Put food, water and natural resources first — by permanently protecting prime farmland and source water regions, closing loopholes that allow developers to run roughshod over communities, disallowing SLAAP suits that silence citizens and ending the fire sale of Ontario’s natural resources.

Reduce electricity costs — by conducting a public review of the costs and alternatives to rebuilding the Bruce B Nuclear Station and the Darlington Nuclear Station and cancelling the sell-off of Hydro One.

Challenge the Liberals to grow a spine — to say no to lobbyist seeking to secure special exemptions and free pollution permits under the province’s new cap-and-trade system so that Ontario has a fair and effective carbon pricing market.

The Green Party of Ontario is on a mission to bring honesty, integrity and good public policy to Queen’s Park.